February 16, 2012
Hamas Leader Khaled Meshaal, left, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — PLO executive committee member Wassel Abu Yousef said Wednesday that the next reconciliation meeting will take place in Cairo on Feb. 23-24.
Abu Yousef made the remarks while speaking to Palestine Radio, saying that the meeting will discuss the formation of a new government, which could potentially be announced after the meeting.
“There is no way we can go back to negotiations without a halt in settlements in the Palestinian territories and occupied Jerusalem,” he said, commenting on talks with Israel.
Senior Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad said Wednesday that all members of the new government will be qualified and independent of any faction.
After Hamas and Fatah signed a reconciliation deal in May 2011, they agreed to hold elections within a year, and appoint an interim government to unite both territories. But the parties sparred for months over the candidate to lead the unity government.
After meeting in November to kickstart the stalled deal, Mashaal and Abbas indicated that elections would still be held by May 2012, but Abbas has yet to issue a presidential decree which is required three months prior to the vote. (*)
SOURCE : MA’AN NEWS AGENCY
Posted Thursday, February 16, 2012
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